Ice skate sharpener



Nov. 24, 1964 H. e. CHATTILLION 3,157,973

ICE SKATE SHARPENER Filed Feb. 15. 1962 FIG. 1.

INVEN TOR. HOW/f9 6. (WA 777l/0/V United States Patent 3,157,973 ICE SKATE SHARPENER Howard G. Chattillion, 4 22 Dianne, Columbia, Ill. Filed Feb. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 173,520 6 Claims. (Cl. 51--392) The invention relates to ice skate sharpeners and consists particularly in a sharpener having a renewable abrasive element.

It is a main object of the invention to provide an ice skate sharpener which utilizes a renewable flexibilitybacked abrasive element.

It is an additional object to provide such a sharpener in which the abrasive element is so supported to provide a slightly concave cross section on the blade.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same numerals of reference indicating like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice skate sharpener embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the sharpener indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, of a sharpener having a modified cross section.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, of a sharpener having a different modified cross section.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the elongated body of a sharpener having a flat upper surface 3, downwardly and inwardly inclined side surfaces 4 and an arcuate bottom surface 5 curved about the major axis of body 3 and substantially tangent at its sides to side surfaces 4. At its ends body 1 is provided with downwardly projecting plate-like ends 7, each of which is formed with a vertical slot 9 which is open at its lower end and terminates where it intersects arcuate surface 5. Slots 9 are formed on a common radius of arcuate surface 5 and are of sufficient width to slidably receive blade B of an ice skate so that the sharpener may be moved lengthwise of blade B with the blade passing through slot 9 of both end plates 7. Sharpening of the blade on a slightly concave cross section is effected by a sheet of flexibly-backed abrasive material 11 which extends approximately the full distance between end plates 7 and is held, preferably by the fingers of the user, who grasps the sides 4, in snug engagement with the surfaces 4 and 5 of body 1. Arcuate surface 5 is substantially wider, i.e., has a substantially greater dimension transversely of the sharpener, than slot 9 and this feature, in addition to providing the proper concavity on the blade, cooperates with the tangential connection between arcuate surfaces 5 to make possible the application of the abrasive sheet without sharply bending and cracking it.

In operation, the user places a piece of sandpaper or other flexibly-backed abrasive material 11 around surfaces 4 and 5 of body member 1, positioning the sharpener on the blade to be sharened with the blade extending through end plate slots 9, and holding the sharpener firmly with its side walls 4 between his thumb and fingers, slides the sharpener back and forth along the blade until the desired degree of sharpness is attained.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the inventio which corresponds to the structure illustrated in FIGS. l-3 and described above except that the body portion 12 of FIG. 4 is of cylindrical cross section, facilitating the extension of the abrasive material 11 completely around it with its ends 11a extended upwardly to form tabs graspable between the fingers of the user and thus permitting a more secure retention of the abrasive material on the sharpener body 12 as well as providing an advantageous finger hold.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention corresponding generally to that of the previous figures but having a body 13 of substantially figure-eight cross section with its lower portion 14 generally cylindrical, its upper portion 15 of sector cross section, and its neck portion 16 having concave surfaces tangent to the body lower portion 14 and the radial surfaces of upper portion 15. In this embodiment the ends 11a of the sheet of flexibly-backed abrasive material 11 are extended around cylindrical lower portion 15 and upwardly along the concave surfaces of neck portion 16 and up the radial surfaces of the upper sector-shaped portion 15, thus providing a greater area for the finger and thumb grip of the user and improved means for retaining the sheet of abrasive material on body 13.

Operation of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that described above in connection with FIGS. 1-3.

The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the artand the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice skate sharpener comprising a body having an arcuate surface and provided with plate-like ends extending transversely of the arcuate surface and both slotted along a common radius of the arcuate surface, with the radially outer ends of the slots open, the slots being of suitable width to slidably receive the blade of the skate and the width of the arcuate surface being substantially greater than that of the slots, said arcuate surface mounting a sheet of flexibly-backed abrasive material.

2. An ice skate sharpener according to claim 1 in which said body has a fiat upper surface and inwardly inclined side surfaces, and said arcuate surface is at the bottom and is formed with its sides substantially tangent to the inclined side surfaces.

3. An ice skate sharpener according to claim 1 in which said body member is of cylindrical cross section.

4. An ice skate sharpener according to claim 3 in which the ends of said abrasive sheet are extended upwardly and radially in a direction substantially opposite said radial slots.

5. An ice skate sharpener according to claim 1 in which said body is of substantially figure-eight cross section having a lower half of substantially cylindrical section, the lower surfaces of the upper half being substantially straight, and outwardly and upwardly inclined.

6. An ice skate sharpener according to claim 5 in which the ends of the abrasive sheet are extended upwardly in engagement with the lower surfaces of the upper half of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent Boron Apr. 21, 1953 

1. AN ICE SKATE SHARPENER COMPRISIING A BODY HAVING AN ARCUATE SURFACE AND PROVIDED WITH PLATE-LIKE ENDS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE ARCUATE SURFACE AND BOTH SLOTTED ALONG A COMMON RADIUS OF THE ARCUATE SURFACE, WITH THE RADIALLY OUTER ENDS OF THE SLOTS OPEN, THE SLOTS BEING OF SUITABLE WIDTH TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE THE BLADE OF THE SKATE AND THE WIDTH OF THE ARCUATE SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THAT OF THE SLOTS, SAID ARCUATE SURFACE MOUNTING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLY-BACKED ABRASIVE MATERIAL. 